The prize encourages teams of students – undergraduates and graduate/professional students at two- and four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina – to help solve a problem affecting one or more of these areas: the economy, education, the natural and built environments and health.

The team winning the grand prize takes home $50,000. The competition also includes a $25,000 runner-up award; two “fan favorites” of $10,000 each; and a $5,000 “emerging idea” prize. All funds are used for project implementation.

“Last year, we marveled at the ways college students across our state found solutions for a variety of issues,” said McKinley Wooten, chairman, SECU Foundation. “We are excited to partner with IEI again and thrilled to see how our universities’ students are thinking of innovative solutions to our state’s issues.”